Shoetree



y 16, 940. R. F. HARTNER 2.2os,ooz

SHOE'IREE Filed Oct. 12, 1939 Znmentor Gttorncg Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention, relates to a shoetree, and important objects and advantages thereof are to provide a shoetree of the character described, which is applied externally upon the sole of the 5 shoe to be straightened and kept in shape, which will restore a shoe to its original form, which is particularly effective in straightening upturned soles and in eliminating the transverse creases produced by wear, which may be conveniently applied to a shoe or removed from the latter, which is held on the shoe by adjustable tension, which will not injure the shoe, and which may be applied to shoes of different sizes.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable, compact, positive in its action, and comparatively economical in its manufacture and use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of 80 reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe provided with an applied shoetree constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes a shoe of the conventional construction, including a sole 2 and a heel 3.

The invention comprises an integral piece or length of strong, resilient spring wire, which is bent or shaped to form a body 4. The latter includes a pair of similar, parallel disposed limbs of considerable length, respectively indicated at 5 and 6. The limbs 5 and 6 are spaced from each other, and the forward end portions l5 thereof are turned upwardly and joined together by a horizontally extending catch bar I. The latter is adapted for engaging the projecting tip 8 of the shoe sole 2, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Each of the limbs 5 and 6 is formed to provide a knee 9 and a depending leg Ill. The limbs incline at an angle from the horizontal from the forward upturned portions l5 thereof toward respective knees 9, and the legs l0 decline forwardly at an angle from the vertical toward respective knees, as shown in Figure 1.

The free lower ends of each of the legs It is formed with an eye II for the passage of a con-' tinuous, tensioning band l2. The latter is preferably made of comparatively heavy rubber, but may be constructed of any other suitable material of equivalent elasticity.

When the improved shoetree is applied to a shoe, the catch bar I is engaged on the tip 8 of 10 the sole, as stated, and the knees 9 engage the under or bottom side of the sole at a considerable distance from the front end of the latter. The tensioning band I2 is passed around the rear of the heel 3. 15

The tension of the tensioning band l2 will normally exert a downward pull on the catch bar and on the engaged shoe tip 8, while simultaneously exerting upward force to the knees 9 and to that portion of the shoe sole engaged by said 20 knees. The tension of the band will, of course, determine the force of the downward pull of the catch bar at the shoe tip and the upward force of the knees against the engaged portion of the shoe sole. 25

The tension of the band [2 may be varied to best meet conditions found in practice by the adjustment of a suitable adjusting clip 13, which latter is shiftably engaged on the tensioning band. The clip is preferably positioned at the 30 rear of the heel 3 when the band is engaged on the latter, whereby the non-used portion of the band, rearwardly of the clip, will form and provide a loop M for conveniently suspending the shoe, with the applied shoetree, from any suit- 35 able supporting element.

It will be apparent that the construction and application of my improved shoetree is such that whether the shoe, equipped therewith, is suspended from the loop l4, as set forth, or placed upon 40 some other type of supporting surface, the sole 2 of the shoe cannot contact with such surface but will be spaced from the latter. This feature permits the free passage to the entire exposed area of the sole, and is particularly advantageous in hastening the drying process of the sole if the latter be wet. I

The present invention provides a most efficient device of its kind, which may be readily and quickly applied to or removed from a shoe, and 5 which will function effectively to straighten upturned soles and eliminate transverse creases in the shoe caused by wear, and to generally restore the shoe to its original form.

What I claim is: v 55 1. A shoetree comprising a body formed to provide a pair of spaced parallel disposed limbs, the front ends of said limbs being joined together by a catch bar for engaging the projecting tip of the shoe sole, each of said limbs being bent to form a knee for engaging the shoe sole and further to provide a depending leg, and a tensioning member connected with the free ends of said legs and connecting with the heel of the shoe to secure said body to the latter.

2. A shoetree comprising a resilient body constructed of an integral piece of wire and formed to provide a pair of spaced parallel disposed limbs, the front portions of said limbs being turned upwardly and joined together by a catch bar for engaging the projecting tip of the sole of the shoe, each of said limbs being bent to form a knee for engaging the sole of the shoe and further to provide a depending leg, and a tensioning member connecting with the free ends of said legs and surrounding the heel of the shoe for securing said body to the latter.

3. A shoe tree comprising a resilient body constructed of wire and formed to provide a pair of spaced parallel disposed limbs, the front ends of said limbs being joined together by a catch bar for engaging the projecting tip of the sole of the shoe, each of said limbs being bent to form a knee for engaging the sole of the shoe and further to provide a depending leg, a tensiomng member connected with the free ends of said legs and surrounding the heel of the shoe for securing said body to the shoe, and means engaged on said member for adjusting the tension of the latter.

4. A shoetree comprising a body constructed of an integral piece of resilient wire and being formed to provide a pair of spaced parallel disposed limbs, the front end portions of said body being turned upwardly and joined together by a catch bar for engaging the projecting tip of the sole of the shoe, each of said limbs being bent to form a knee engaging the sole of the shoe and further to provide a depending leg, a tensioning member connected with the free ends of said legs and surrounding the heel of the shoe for securing said body to the shoe, and means engaged on said member for adjusting the tension of the latter.

5. A shoetree comprising the combination of a body constructed of an integral piece of resilient wire and being formed to provide a pair of spaced parallel disposed limbs, the front end portions of said limbs being turned upwardly and joined together by a catch bar engaging the projecting tip of the sole of theshoe, each of said limbs being bent to form a knee engaging the sole of the shoe and further to provide a depending leg,

the free end of each of said legs being provided with an eye, a continuous rubber band extending through said eyes for surrounding the heel of the shoe to secure said body to the shoe, and means shiftably engaged on said band for adjusting the tension of the latter.

RALPH F. HARTNER. 

